Pallet support



ct. 22, 1963 M G, KAISER 3,107,635

PALLET SUPPORT Filed 0G17. 18, 1962 IWI/ew' A7 fz/aJe/ BY POBERTLKAHN ATTY United States Patent O 3,107,635 PALLET SUPPRT Martin G. Kaiser, 127 Chandler Ave., Elmhurst, Ill. Filed Oct. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 231,402 Claims. (Cl. 10S-51) This invention relates to a pallet support and more particularly to a support which can be secured to a pallet in a variety of manners.

Pallets are -widely used in industry to provide a temporary or permanent support for various items. such pallets are provided with means to provide clearance between the pallet proper and floor to accommodate a lift truck platform or other means for raising the pallet from the floor when moving the pallet. In its simplest form a pallet may consist of a wooden panel supported above the licor by two or more wooden runners. From the above simple pallet structure, more elaborate variations have been made wtih a view toward increasing the strength or convenience of the pallet or with a view toward reducing the cost of manufacture and maintenance. A serious disadvantage of available pallets is that they do not lend themselves to differences in attachment of the various pallet parts or attachment of a pallet support by various attaching means. Furthermore, present day pallets are not easily repaired and frequently require the discarding of the pallet rather than repairing the same.

The present invention provides a pallet support which may be manufactured cheaply and may be applied to a pallet or any item requiring shipping easily and quickly and will be capable of supporting heavy loads. Preferably, the new support .is constructed of suitable plastic material, although conventional materials as wood and steel may be used.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that such embodiments are exemplary and that variations Within the scope of the claims may be made.

FIGURE l is a perspective View of a pallet support embodying one form of the invention, this pallet support being adjustable for pallet size, this modification having an assembly of support legs with lateral extensions, pallet boards being shown in dotted outline suggesting how the entire assembly is maintained.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional detail on broken line 2 2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the support legs and one of the lateral extensions making up the assembly of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View of a support leg with the double lateral extensions, this also being part of the assembly shown in FIGURE l.

Referring first to FIGURES l and 3, there is illustrated a pallet leg construction which can be cast or moulded by itself apart from any lateral extensions as illustrated in the drawings. This individual pallet leg comprises flat top portion 1li and leg portion 11 moulded together as one integral piece. For heavy duty work, the plastic material may -be high impact polystyrene althoughH other plastics or metal as aluminum may be used and the thickness of the parts may be correspondingly adjusted. When moulded as an individual leg, top 1li has a generally rectangular outline providing sides 16a to llild inclusive. In such case, it will be understood that the lateral extension from side 10d shown in the drawings will not be provided and, instead, side 16d will continue straight along the dotted line shown in FIGURE 3.

Top portion lll of the leg is provided with rounded corners 13 and inwardly disposed from these rounded corners are mounting apertures 15 extending through the top. It is understood that additional mounting apertures As a rule, f

may be provided as deemed necessary. Leg portion 11 consists of a generally cylindrical Wall having suitable thickness.

Substantially midway between adjacent rounded corners 13 of the top, each of the sides is provided with a generally rectangular slot 17. The depth of each slot 17 is suiciently great so that access to the interior of leg 11 through the slots in the top is provided. The top edge of cylindrical leg 11 is correspondingly slotted at 18 to register with slot 17, slots 17 and 18 having the same width (the dimension along the sides of top 10` and along the top edge of leg 11) so that communication between top 10' and the interior of cylindrical leg 11 -is facilitated. These slots 17 and 18 are wide enough to accommodate steel strap available for tying purposes. It is understood that if steel strap is used, the material will be fed into slots at one side of top 16' such as, for example, side 16a, and pulled out of the slots on the opposite side, such as 10's.

In order to reinforce cylindrical leg 11 to withstand load applied to leg top 10, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 20 are provided. The ribs are disposed between adjacent slots 17 (or 18) and as illustrated here in FIGURE 3, four such ribs are'provided symmetrically disposed between adjacent slots 17. Each rib 20 is integral with the bottom of top 10 and also integral with the inner side wall of cylindrical leg 11. Each rilb 20 may extend from top lll for the full length of leg 11 to the bottom edge. However, as illustrated in FIGURE l3, the ribs extend for a substantial portion Vof the length of leg 11, such as about three-fourths down, and terminate short of the bottom edge. It is preferred to have each rib Ztl of triangular shape as seen fromthe side of a rib, the triangle vbeing a right triangle with hypotenuse 21 'extending downwardly from the bottom surface of leg top 10l and terminating at the inside surface of cylindrical leg 11 at a point above the'bottom edge of leg 11. The exact dimensions of the rib will depend upon such design considerationsas the nature of the plastic, maximum load and similar factors.

As is customary in moulding practice, the thickness of the Walls making up leg 1,1 and rib yZtl will taper somewhat to facilitate removal of the finished item from a mould cavity.

The pallet leg so far described may be applied to a pallet in one or more manners. Thus nails or, bolts can be used at corner apertures 15 and/ or wire or steel strap can be passed through the slots as heretofore suggested. The Wire or strap may' connect top' 10i to a pallet or directly to a bulky item and as many such legs may be provided at appropriate regions asare deemed necessary.

The leg construction so fardescribed is readily adapted for use as a structural element of a simple wooden pallet consisting of a number of parallel slats or boards which may be disposed in parallel relation either in close order or spaced from each other. Such a suggested pallet construction is shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1. The pallet may also be of one piece of any desired material.

In order to adapt the pallet leg and top previously desions 30 and 31 are both similar and consist of channel shaped portions having body 32 and upstanding sides 33 and 34. Bottom 32 of the channel extension may be provided with one or more openings or slots 3S` and at one of said slots integral spring tongue 36 longitudinally of extension 431 is provided. Tongue 36 carries at its free end boss 37 extending upwardly from the tongue within the channel.

Sides 33 and 34 of the channel have laterally projecting locking extensions 39 which are spaced from and extend over bottom part 32 of the channel. These lateral extensions 39 function to provide locking means for a companion extension which is adapted to slide in the channel.

Referring to FIGURES l and 3, the companion lateral extension referred to is generally designated as 45 and in this particular instance, extends from one side only of top 10 of a pallet leg. Lateral extension 45' consists of strip portion 46 just wide enough to slip between sides 33 and 34 of :lateral extensions 30* or 31. inwardly from the edges of strip portion 46 is laterally offset narrower strip portion 47. Portions 46k and 47 of extension 45 thus form a stepped structure for use with channel extensions 30 lor 31. Strip portion 46 is lwide enough to slide between sides 33 and 34- of the channel and under locking extensions 39. `Offset narrower portion 47 is narrow enough to slide between lateral locking extensions 39.

Lateral extension 45 is provided with elongated aperture 49 adjacent side 10d of top portion 10 ofthe leg proper. Extending beyond elongated aperture 49 in extension 45 are a number of circular apertures 50 spaced at intervals along the length of the extension. Apertures 50 are designed to accommodate boss 37 carried by flexible tongue 36 of extension 31.

As shown in FIGURE 2, extension 45 cooperates with extensions 30I or 31 -to lock the two extensions in any one of a number of selected positions. The thicknesses of the various pants are so proportionedthat the top surface of leg top and 10*I will be flush with the top surfaces of sides 33 and 34 of lateral extensions 30 and 31, as well as with the top surface of lateral extension 45'.

Insofar as leg portion 10 and 11 are concerned, these can be generally similar. However, the sides from which extensions 30 and 31 project have top portion 10l cut deeply to give free access to the interior of cylindrical leg portion 11. Also ri-bs 20" are two in number and are disposed in line with two oppositely disposed slots 17 in top 10. The top edge of cylindrical leg portion 11 is provided with corresponding slots 13" cooperating with slot 17 The top edge of two ribs 20 preferably extends right up to the adjacent surface of top portion 10". Thus any steel strap or wire passing through slots 17 andVlS' will have to go on one side or the other of each of ribs 20' when threaded through underneath top 10. However, the deeply slotted portions of top 10' where lateral extensions 30 and 31 are provide ready access for steel wire or strap to -tie top portion 10" to a pallet or other object above it for attaching purposes.

It is possible to have simple lateral extensions from a leg unit consisting of `top 10 and cylindrical leg 11 and make no attempt to overlap such extensions, as illustrated here. In all instances, additional mounting apertures in either the top (10 or 10'), or any of the extensions 30, 31 or 4S, may be provided to maintain an entire pallet structure in assembled relation.

What is claimed is:

l. For use on pallets or heavy loads, an integral cast supporting leg structure comprising a ilat top portion and a hollow -leg extending laterally from one face of said llat top portion, said hollow leg having a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending from the top portion inside of the leg toward the free leg end, each rib tapering in width from a maximum at the top to nothing at the rib end, said ribs being arranged symmetrically about the leg Wall, said structure having steel strap accommodating slots at opposite regions adjacent the top portion and the top having apertures therethrough for permitting leg attachment by nails, bolts or steel strap.

2. The construction according to claim l wherein said slots are in the edges of the top portion and adjacent leg por-tions.

3. The construction according to claim 2 wherein said top portion is generally rectangular with the leg being cylindrical and wherein the apertures in the top portion are klocated at the top regions beyond the leg and the slots are located between the apertured regions.

4. The construction according to claim l wherein said top portion is an elongated flat strip and is adapted to cooperate with a second leg having an elongated strip as its top portion so that two strips may function as a support.

5. The con-struction according to claim 4 wherein two legs and two strips are provided with spaced interlocking means for the strips so that two strips may be positioned to function as one composite strip of desired length.

6. The construction according to claim 4 wherein three leg and strip combinations are provided, one leg having stripl portions extending in opposite directions from its leg, and second and third similar combinations are provided where the strip extends from the leg only 1n one direction, said various strips havin-g interlocking means for locking two strips in adjusted predetermined positions to control the overall spacing between adjacent legs.

7. For use on pallets or heavy loads, an integral supporting leg structure moulded of high impact polystyrene ycomprising a flat generally rectangular top portion and a hollow leg extending laterally from one face of said hat top portion, said hollow leg having a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending from the top portion inside of the leg toward the free leg end, each rib tapering in width from a maximum at the top to nothing at the rib end, said ribs being arranged symmetrically abou-t the leg wall, said structure having steel strap accommodating slots at opposite regions adjacent the top portion and thc top having apertures therethrough for permitting leg attachment by nails, bolts or steel strap or cement.

8. The construction according to claim 7 wherein said leg is cylindrical and wherein the apertures in the top portion are located at corner regions beyond the leg and the slots are located between the corner regions.

9. For use on pallets or heavy loads, an integral supporting leg structure moulded of strong plastic comprising a flat top portion and a hollow leg extending laterally from one face of said dat top portion, said hollow leg having a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending from the top portion inside of the leg toward the free leg end, each rib tapering in width from a maximum at the top to nothing at the rib end, said ribs being arranged symmetrically about the leg wal-l, said structure having steel strap accommodating slots at opposite regions adjacent the top portion and the top having apertures therethrough for permitting leg attachment by nails, bolts or steel strap, said top portion extending laterally of said leg for providing an extended support strip.

10. The construction according to claim 9 wherein said top portion extension has a general channel shape and cooperates with a different leg structure having atop extension which slidingly locks into position with said channel-shaped extension to control the overall -leg separation and provide support for a pallet or heavy load.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,444,184 Cahners June 29, 1948 2,448,447 Lau Aug. 3l, 1948 2,739,776 Terando Mar. 27, 1956 2,841,350 Chronistei` July 1, 1958 2,955,791 George Oct. 1l, 1960 2,991,965 Drieborg July 11, 1961 3,022,028 Reinhard et al. ..,...v Feb. 20, 1962 

1. FOR USE ON PALLETS OR HEAVY LOADS, AN INTEGRAL CAST SUPPORTING LEG STRUCTURE COMPRISING A FLAT TOP PORTION AND A HOLLOW LEG EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM ONE FACE OF SAID FLAT TOP PORTION, SAID HOLLOW LEG HAVING A PLURALITY OF REINFORCING RIBS EXTENDING FROM THE TOP PORTION INSIDE OF THE LEG TOWARD THE FREE LEG END, EACH RIB TAPERING IN WIDTH FROM A MAXIMUM AT THE TOP TO NOTHING AT THE RIB 